Health ministry launches Annex Building of ICMR-RMRC in Bhubaneswar
The annexe building has been constructed for high-end laboratory and administrative purposes
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the annexe building of ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in the presence of Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar. He also laid the foundation stone for the ICMR School of Public Health and BSL III Laboratory.
Dr Mandaviya said, “India has the potential to be a global leader in terms of research. This has been proved during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.” Expressing his appreciation for the ICMR scientists, he stated, “India rolled out its indigenous COVID-19 vaccine within a month of the introduction of the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world.”
The Union Health Minister also highlighted the need for collaboration and cooperation between government and private research facilities to enhance the scope and output of medical research.
Pradhan expressed his gratitude to ICMR for their contribution towards making an indigenous vaccine and their continued efforts towards genome sequencing of new variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Congratulating ICMR on their achievements, Dr Pawar recalled that ICMR mobile BSL labs are being utilised by other countries like Bhutan in their management of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also expressed her appreciation for the scientists from ICMR-RMRC who wholeheartedly supported the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call for TB-Mukt Bharat and have come forward to become Nikshay Mitras.
The annexe building has been constructed for high-end laboratory and administrative purposes. The centre has initiated next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a tool for undertaking studies on the genomic epidemiology of pathogens. The next-generation sequencing facility is currently contributing SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) and also providing identification of emerging and re-emerging diseases. The building will house sophisticated laboratories like bioinformatics facility, Proteomics study facility, e-library and medical museum.
The ICMR School of Public Health at ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneswar will provide participants with a professional, critical and interdisciplinary education, equipping them with the skills to explore and respond to current public health challenges. The Public Health Academic program has been started at the centre since 2018 under the aegis of School of Public Health, Bhubaneswar. This course is affiliated to Utkal University, Odisha (NAAC A+) and recognised by Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha. This is the second ICMR School of Public Health in the country. Currently admission of fifth batch for MPH course (2022-24) has been completed.
Regional Level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar is a public health virology laboratory setup funded by the Department of Health Research, MoH&FW, Government of India under the scheme “Setting up of nation-wide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and national calamities”. BSL3 level facility will be a major addition to capacity building in the state and the region for tackling novel and highly infectious pathogens and responding to health challenges posed by such pathogens, especially emerging and re-emerging viruses.
PIB
